In celebration of Black History Month, we will be sharing a series of blog posts highlighting our clients and staff from the African diaspora. We are honored to share the stories of these amazing individuals, whom we celebrate not just this month, but throughout the year.

Meet Dr. Nadria Lyn, an Emergency Medicine Physician in Fayetteville, Georgia. Dr. Lyn is from Montego Bay, Jamaica, where she was born and raised and spent the earlier part of her life. Dr. Lyn attended high school in Montego Bay and was always fascinated with science and the human body. She also had a huge desire to help others. She spent her entire childhood dreaming of becoming a physician and worked hard towards that dream. After graduating from high school, she was accepted directly into medical school in Jamaica. However, Nadria decided to first obtain a liberal arts education in the U.S. to broaden her experience and expand her horizons.

Nadria traveled to the U.S. on a student (F-1) visa to attend Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, where she majored in Chemistry. She then attended Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia to obtain her medical degree. Nadria completed her residency in Emergency Medicine at Emory University, with the bulk of her training at Grady Memorial Hospital. She was then offered her first position as Emergency Medicine Physician. Nadria accepted and worked in this position under valid H-1B (specialty occupation) status and was eventually sponsored for her employment-based green card, through which she obtained permanent residence in the U.S.

As you can see, Nadria ultimately remained steadfast in her decision to pursue medicine and has been an Emergency Medicine Physician for the past 12 years. Her practice is not for the faint of heart. In one shift alone, she can go from reducing a broken bone, to laughing hysterically with a psychotic patient, to diagnosing and treating a heart attack, to performing CPR to save the life of a patient in cardiac arrest, to delivering a death notice to a patient’s family.

Now a U.S. citizen, Nadria continues to practice Emergency Medicine at Piedmont Fayette Hospital. During the past two years, she has bravely served as an essential worker providing Emergency services to Covid-19 patients and continuing to save lives. Given that black females comprise approximately 2% of physicians in the U.S., Dr. Lyn has expressed her awareness and responsibilities to help others achieve their dreams and has mentored others through their own paths in their medical careers. One of her mentees, a fellow Jamaican, is now a colleague in the same hospital and specialty. She continues to mentor college students who work with her in the Emergency Room (ER) as scribes.

“I love that they can see me firsthand working as an ER physician and know that this is also attainable for them. I believe that representation matters in all areas of life and medicine is no different. During my training, I did not encounter many professors or attendings who looked like me and that affects the psyche in so many negative ways. It is my hope that the next generation will have a different experience – black physicians need to no longer be the exception.”

Dr. Lyn is grateful for her immigration path and the opportunities it has provided. Aside from building her career in medicine, she has a beautiful family, and is also a licensed real estate agent, freelance interior designer, and entrepreneur. Our firm is honored to have assisted Dr. Lyn in obtaining both her H-1B nonimmigrant and her permanent residence status.

“One lesson I have learned and am trying to teach my 5 -year-old daughter who is the driving force behind everything I do, is to never limit oneself. When I completed my medical training, I thought I had arrived, but I soon realized I had so much more to give. I am more than just a physician. Every day I continue to challenge myself, I continue to actively learn, I take steps to grow mentally and emotionally. I never settle and I don’t allow myself to get complacent.

To anyone hoping to achieve the ‘American dream’, know that it is worth it but once you get there the work has only just begun. Don’t waste your new opportunities and above all, never forget where you are coming from and always extend a helping hand to someone else along the way.”

This monthly blog series on Black History Month is produced by our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee led by our Senior Attorney, Nadia Deans Kalata.

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